Britain placed on swine flu alert

A member of the cabin crew from a British Airways Mexico City-to-Heathrow flight is in hospital with "flu-like symptoms" after falling ill in mid-trip.

The man, who has not been named, has been taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, north London.

A hospital spokesman said: "He has flu-like symptoms and is responding well to treatment."

The spokesman added that the hospital was scrupulously following infection control procedures "to ensure there is no risk to any other individual in the hospital."

It comes as the UK was placed on health alert following a deadly outbreak of swine influenza in Mexico and the US.

The World Health Organisation has warned all nations to keep a look out for unusual flu cases. Its director-general Margaret Chan said the outbreak constituted a "public health emergency of international concern" and had "pandemic potential".

The H1N1 strain of swine flu usually associated with pigs has spread to humans, causing symptoms including fever and fatigue.

At least 81 people have died of pneumonia in Mexico after contracting a flu-like virus and many others - including children in a New York school - have been made ill.

The UK Health Protection Agency said it was keeping a close eye on the situation.

An HPA spokesman said: "No cases of swine flu have been identified in the UK or anywhere in Europe. The reported events in the US and Mexico are unusual and warrant further investigation and vigilance on the part of other countries."